9m ago / 2:29 PM EST
House tables Democratic Rep. Al Green’ resolution to impeach Trump
The House this afternoon tabled a resolution from Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, to impeach Trump.
Lawmakers tabled it in a 237-140 vote, with 47 Democrats voting present. Voting present is when members do not register a yes or no vote but instead choose present to show that they were in the chamber for the vote.
Ahead of the vote, House Democratic leaders said in a statement that “Impeachment is a sacred constitutional vehicle designed to hold a corrupt executive accountable for abuse of power, breaking the law and violating the public trust.”
The leaders — House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. — said that impeachment “traditionally requires a comprehensive investigative process,” which has not happened because “the Republican majority focused solely on rubber stamping Donald Trump’s extreme agenda.”
Trump was impeached twice during his first term as president, first in 2019 over his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, and again in 2021 over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
49m ago / 1:48 PM EST
White House defends U.S. seizure of oil tanker near Venezuela
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt today defended the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker near Venezuela yesterday, arguing that the administration is “focused on doing many things in the Western Hemisphere.”
Her comment came in response to a question about whether the administration’s operations in the region are focused on drugs or oil.
Leavitt said two things that are “very important” to the administration is “stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the United States of America” and “effectuating this administration’s sanction policy.”
“That’s what you saw the world saw take place yesterday,” Leavitt said.
Asked if Trump would try to use the seized oil from the tanker to help Americans struggling with affordability, Leavitt said that the vessel is “currently undergoing a forfeiture process.”
“Right now, the United States currently has a full investigative team on the ground on the vessel, and individuals on board the vessel are being interviewed, and any relevant evidence is being seized,” she said. “With respect to the oil … the vessel will go to a U.S. port, and the United States does intend to seize the oil. However, there is a legal process for the seizure of that oil, and that legal process will be followed.”
52m ago / 1:45 PM EST
White House criticizes judge’s decision to order immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to a judge ordering Kilmar Abrego Garcia to be immediately released, saying that the White House “opposed this activism from a judge.”
She reiterated accusations of criminal activity, and she pointed to the Department of Homeland Security saying it would continue fighting in court.
2h ago / 1:10 PM EST
Democratic proposal to extend Obamacare subsidies for 3 years fails to advance in Senate vote
Senate Democrats’ proposal to extend Obamacare subsidies for three years failed to advance in a floor vote today.
The 51-48 vote comes just a few weeks before the tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., voted with Democrats despite also voting to proceed with the GOP bill, too.
“There’s a crisis, a huge crisis that will hit us Jan. 1,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in an interview this morning on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe.”
“Millions and millions will just lose their health care coverage altogether. Tens of millions more will have much worse coverage and have to switch their plans, switch doctors, pay higher deductibles, higher copayments, not even be able to get the cures and the drugs they need,” he added.
Meanwhile, every House Democrat has signed a “discharge petition” to force a vote on the same bill in the lower chamber, but it needs GOP signatures in order to receive a floor vote. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., has introduced a discharge petition as well to try to force a floor vote on extending the subsidies for two years, which only several Democrats and Republicans have signed.
2h ago / 12:42 PM EST
Senate GOP health care plan fails to advance in floor vote
A health care proposal offered by Senate Republicans failed to advance in a 51-48 floor vote today as Congress faces pressure to extend the Obamacare tax credits before they expire this year.
No Democrats voted in favor of the bill, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the only Republican to vote no. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., didn’t vote.
The measure that failed was sponsored by Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and it would allow the Obamacare tax credits to expire and instead approve new funds to boost health savings accounts, or HSAs. It would also create the option for more people to buy those low-premium plans with less coverage and higher out-of-pocket costs, among other things.
The pair of senators said in a press release that “these pre-funded, patient-driven accounts will help Americans pay for the out-of-pocket costs that are making healthcare unaffordable.”
Ahead of the GOP vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., dismissed the plan as “junk insurance.”
3h ago / 12:21 PM EST
Noem concludes testimony before House committee
Noem has concluded her testimony to go to another commitment. This was expected, and Chairman Andrew Garbarino said near the start of the hearing that one of the witnesses had limited time.
Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and Michael Glasheen, the operations director for the FBI’s national security branch, are continuing to testify before lawmakers.
Yelling could be heard on a livestream as Noem left the hearing room.
3h ago / 11:58 AM EST
Noem says tanker takeover ‘was a successful operation’
Noem said that the Trump administration’s operation to seize an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela was led by the Coast Guard and in partnership with the Defense Department, the Justice Department and the FBI.
“It was a successful operation directed by the president to ensure that we’re pushing back on a regime that is systematically covering and flooding our country with deadly drugs and killing our next generation of Americans,” she said.
It comes as the U.S. has repeatedly struck alleged drug boats in international waters as Trump continues slamming Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The administration has not provided evidence for its claims about the boats.
3h ago / 11:52 AM EST
Rep. Seth Magaziner confronts Noem on deporting military veterans
Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., confronted Noem with a military veteran he said that the administration deported this year.
“Madam secretary, how many United States military veterans have you deported?” Magaziner asked.
“Sir, we have not deported U.S. citizens or military veterans,” Noem said.
Magaziner gestured to an iPad held by an aide moments later, saying a U.S. military veteran had joined via Zoom.
“He is a United States combat Army veteran who was shot twice while serving our country in Panama in 1989,” Magaziner said, adding that the veteran was arrested later for “minor drug offenses” and has been sober for 14 years.
Magaziner said that the Trump administration deported Magaziner to South Korea this year, despite the veteran not living in the country since he was 7 years old.
Asked if she would thank the veteran for his service, Noem said, “Sir, I’m grateful for every single person that has served our country and follows our laws and knows that our laws are important and every one of them needs to be enforced.”
Asked later whether she would commit to looking at the veteran’s case and a potential pathway back to the U.S., she said she would look at the case.
4h ago / 11:16 AM EST
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell announces a campaign for Minnesota governor
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a longtime backer of Trump who spread debunked conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election, announced today that he’ll run for governor in Minnesota next year.
“Those who know me know I’m up to the task,” Lindell said during a speech delivered on his eponymous platform this morning.
Lindell has for weeks hinted that he could jump into the race soon, telling the Minnesota Star Tribune last week when he filed campaign paperwork that he would make a final decision by today.
4h ago / 11:07 AM EST
Venezuelan oil tanker that was seized by U.S. identified as the Skipper
A federal law enforcement official confirms to NBC News that the large oil tanker seized by U.S. forces off the coast of Venezuela yesterday is the Skipper.
Below are two pictures of the boat taken in November that were provided by Tankertrackers.com.
Tankertrackers.com
Tankertrackers.com
4h ago / 11:02 AM EST
Republicans push back on Rep. Bennie Thompson calling shooting of National Guard troops ‘unfortunate accident’
Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, referenced the shooting of two National Guard troops in D.C. as an “unfortunate accident,” prompting blowback from Noem.
“You think that was an unfortunate accident?” Noem cut in. “It was a terrorist attack.”
Thompson continued, saying, “I’ll get it straight,” adding moments later that the shooting was an “unfortunate situation.”
After Thompson’s questioning period ended, another Republican congressman chimed in.
“That was a murder that took place in D.C.,” Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., said. “That was not an unfortunate incident, and those comments are f—ing disrespectful.”
4h ago / 10:43 AM EST
4h ago / 10:41 AM EST
Rep. Bennie Thompson calls on Noem to resign ‘if President Trump doesn’t fire you first
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., used his opening remarks in the House Homeland Security Committee hearing to call on Noem to resign.
“So rather than sitting here and wasting your time and ours more, with more corruption, lies and lawlessness, I call on you to resign,” said Thompson, the top Democrat on the committee. “Do a real service to the country and just resign. That is, if President Trump doesn’t fire you first.”
5h ago / 10:12 AM EST
Protesters confront Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at hearing, sing ‘Darth Vader’s Theme’
Protesters could be heard on a livestream video confronting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ahead of the hearing. They sang “The Imperial March” from the “Star Wars” franchise.
The House Homeland Security Committee hearing has just begun.
The lawmakers are set to question Noem, along with the director of the National Counterterrorism Center and the operations director of the FBI’s national security branch. The hearing was branded as centering on “worldwide threats to the homeland.”
5h ago / 9:59 AM EST
Progressive groups unite behind latest challenger as primaries against House Democrats spread
Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam is launching a Democratic primary challenge against Rep. Valerie Foushee of North Carolina with a slew of national progressive endorsements — the latest sign that the effort on the left to defeat sitting Democrats is more energized and organized than ever before.
“At a certain point, we as a Democratic Party, and our leadership — we need to look at the urgency of what our residents are living with every single day. They can’t wait for relief. They can’t wait for three years for new leadership to fight for them. They need a champion now,” Allam told NBC News ahead of today’s campaign launch.
Allam is one of several challengers who have launched campaigns against House Democrats they believe are falling short in the fight against Trump’s administration. But Allam said she is the first to launch her campaign with a particular set of endorsements, from the groups Justice Democrats, Leaders We Deserve, the Working Families Party and the Sunrise Movement, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
These groups and figures have endorsed a number of different candidates across the country ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. But the races where those efforts overlap highlight how the anti-incumbent movement has evolved into a broader, and bigger, effort to reshape the Democratic Party.
Justice Democrats, Leaders We Deserve and Sanders have also all backed state Rep. Donavan McKinney against Michigan Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar. Sanders and the Working Families Party backed New York City Comptroller Brad Lander yesterday as he launched his campaign against Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman.
5h ago / 9:40 AM EST
Indiana Senate to vote on Trump-backed congressional map despite GOP resistance
Indiana state senators will decide the fate of a Republican-drawn congressional map yesterday, settling a divisive, monthslong clash between GOP lawmakers who have resisted the redistricting push and Trump, who has urged them to forge ahead.
The proposed map, which the state House passed last week, would dismantle Indiana’s two Democratic-held districts, the latest front in Trump’s national campaign to shore up the GOP’s slim House majority in next year’s midterm elections.
Republicans in Texas, North Carolina and Missouri have answered Trump’s call, passing new maps designed to net the party additional seats, but Indiana lawmakers were hesitant to join the unusual mid-decade redistricting fight for months. Republican leaders in the state Senate have said repeatedly there aren’t enough votes in the chamber to pass the legislation, despite public and private entreaties from the White House.
Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other national Republicans have been pressuring lawmakers in the state through phone calls, in-person visits in Indiana and Washington and social media posts, threatening to back primary challengers to those who oppose the map.
7h ago / 8:32 AM EST
Trump directs his frustration at Ukraine and Europe as peace talks stall again
Trump says he doesn’t want to waste time in talks to end the war in Ukraine.
His growing frustration appears to be aimed not at the Kremlin, but at Kyiv and its backers in Europe, who today faced a deepening rift with the United States at a decisive moment.
As those longtime U.S. allies struggled to balance the mounting pressure from Washington with their reluctance to give in to Russia’s hard-line demands, Trump signaled that his patience was running thin.
“They would like us to go to a meeting over the weekend in Europe, and we’ll make a determination, depending on what they come back with. We don’t want to be wasting time,” he said.
7h ago / 8:24 AM EST
Trump expected to speak with Thailand and Cambodia as border fighting threatens ceasefire
Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered its fourth day today as both sides waited for a promised telephone call from Trump, who says he believes he can again end the conflict between the two Southeast Asian nations.
Clashes yesterday at more than a dozen locations along the 500-mile Thai-Cambodian border saw some of the most intense fighting since a five-day battle in July, which was their worst conflict in recent history.
In July, Trump stopped the fighting with calls to both leaders in which he threatened to halt trade talks unless they ended the conflict. Trump says he expects to speak with the countries’ leaders today.
“I think I can get them to stop fighting,” Trump told reporters yesterday. “I think I’m scheduled to speak to them tomorrow.”
7h ago / 8:18 AM EST
Rep. Dan Goldman responds to Brad Lander primary challenge
Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., responded to outgoing NYC Comptroller Brad Lander launching a primary bid, saying he welcomed Lander to the race and wasn’t “really thinking about this right now.”
“I’m really laser-focused on the work we’re doing right now, and politics will have to wait ’til 2026,” he said in an interview with PIX11 News, pointing to his work addressing health care and immigration issues.
Lander touted an endorsement from New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and bashed Goldman for not supporting Mamdani’s campaign in an earlier PIX11 News interview.
Asked whether he regrets not supporting Mamdani, Goldman said he made his “feelings clear about why I did not endorse Zohran,” adding that he stayed out of the race and that he supports the New York City mayor-elect’s affordability agenda.
7h ago / 7:37 AM EST
Senate Republicans plan vote on a health care alternative as ACA funds look likely to expire
As the U.S. careens to a health care cliff, Senate Republicans say they’ll offer a bill written by two key committee chairs as an alternative to extending billions of dollars in Affordable Care Act funds that are expiring this month.
Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the Senate will vote on a bill by Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Chair Bill Cassidy, R-La., “side-by-side” to Democratic legislation that would extend the enhanced ACA funds for three years, preventing sharp premium increases.
He stopped short of promising that all 53 Republicans would back the Republican bill, but it is almost certain to fail either way, as it would take 60 votes to advance.
“Our members — and I can’t say 100%, but I think for the most part, I would argue — are united behind the Crapo-Cassidy proposal,” Thune told reporters Tuesday after a Senate Republican lunch meeting in which they discussed what to do.
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